Digital printer and digital camera

ABSTRACT

A system controller  115  has a function of changing the position and the orientation of character data to be superimposed on the image data, in accordance with the operation of one of orientation keys. Specifically, when a downward key has been pushed, the character data is superimposed on a lower portion of the image data, not revolved and but oriented upward. When a rightward key has been pushed, the character data is revolved counterclockwise through 90 degrees, and is located along the right-hand edge of the image data, oriented leftward. When an upward key has been pushed, the character data is revolved through 180 degrees, and is located along the upper edge of the image data, oriented downward. Further, when a leftward key has been pushed, the character data is revolved clockwise through 90 degrees, and is located along the left-hand edge of the image data, oriented rightward. When synthesizing attendant information such as character data with image data and printing the resultant data, the position and the orientation of the attendant information can be efficiently set by a simple operation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 11-274505, filed Sep. 28,1999, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a digital printer and a digital camera, andmore particularly to a digital printer and a digital camera, which canprint image with attendant circumstances such as a photography dateattached thereto.

Various types of digital video printers for printing photographed imagesthat are obtained by a digital device such as a digital camera haverecently been developed. In these printers, photographed images storedin a memory device, for example, a memory card can easily be printed.

Further, there is a recent demand for developing a digital cameraprovided with a printing mechanism, or a portable printer, which enablesprinting of a photographed image immediately after photographing it.

A technique is well known, which is for simultaneously recording imagedata and information such as a photography date, and printing the imagedata and the photography date superimposed thereon. For example,Japanese Patent Application KOKAI Publication No. 9-322102 discloses anapparatus in which, when printing a photograph with character data suchas a date superimposed thereon, the position or the color of the datecan be selected by operating a mouse.

In the above described publication, however, the orientation ofcharacter data relative to image data is fixed. In other words, the usercannot select the orientation of character data when printing image datatogether with the character data. In general, this does not cause anyproblem when printing data obtained by operating the digital camera heldin a landscape position. However, in the case of data obtained byoperating the camera held in a portrait position, the orientation ofcharacter data does not correspond to that of image data, which makes itdifficult to read the character data.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide a digital printer and adigital camera, which can provide a printing output with easy-to-readattendant information such as date information, which have a nice orgood format.

To attain the object, there is provided a printer for printing an imagebased on image data and attendant information associated with the imagedata, comprising:

-   -   means for synthesizing the image data with the attendant        information to produce print image data;    -   means for printing an image based on the print image data; and    -   means for changing an orientation of attendant information to be        superimposed on the image, to one of a plurality of        predetermined orientations, the changing means changing the        orientation of the attendant information in accordance with a        predetermined operation by a user so that the attendant        information is synthesized with the image, oriented        appropriately for an orientation of the image data.

Since the printer can change, to one of a plurality of predeterminedorientations, the orientation of the attendant information to besuperimposed on the image data, the orientation of the attendantinformation can be easily made to correspond to the orientation of theimage data by appropriately changing the orientation of the attendantinformation in accordance with the user's operation, for example,between the case of printing image data obtained by operating a digitalcamera held in a landscape position, and the case of printing image dataobtained by operating a digital camera held in a portrait position.Accordingly, the user can easily read the attendant information, andobtain a printing output that looks nice.

Moreover, According to the present invention, the orientation of theattendant information with respect to the image data is predetermined inaccordance with a position on the image data, in which the attendantinformation is superimposed, and the changing means simultaneouslychanges the position and the orientation of the attendant information tobe superimposed on the image data, in accordance with the user'soperation of designating the position of the attendant information.

Thus relating the position of the attendant information to itsorientation enables printing of the attendant information orientedappropriately for a position designated by the user. As a result, theuser does not need to designate the position and the orientation of theattendant information individually. This means that the presentinvention has a high operability.

The processing of changing the orientation in accordance with theposition can be realized by providing an operation unit including fouroperation sections corresponding to upward, downward, leftward andrightward, thereby setting, in accordance with a user's operation of theorientation unit, the position of the attendant information on the imagedata along one of upper, lower, left and right edges of the image data,and changing the orientation of the attendant information in accordancewith the set position. In this case, the user can set the position andthe orientation of the attendant information simply by operating one oforientation keys.

In addition, where the attendant information is situated, for example,along the lower edge of the image data, it can easily be shifted betweenthe left end, the center, and the right end of the lower edge, usingmeans for shifting the position of the attendant information along theone of the upper, lower, left and right edges in accordance with theuser's operation of that one of the four operation sections, whichcorresponds to the one of the upper, lower, left and right edges. Thismeans further enhances the operability of the present invention.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectsand advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means ofthe instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed outhereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate presently preferred embodiments ofthe invention, and together with the general description given above andthe detailed description of the preferred embodiments given below, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view illustrating an externalappearance of a digital camera according to the embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 1B is a schematic sectional view showing the internal structure ofthe camera;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the system of the digital camerashown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart useful in explaining the flow of processingexecuted by the digital camera system when it is in a print mode;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a file structure of imagedata recorded in a recording medium incorporated in the digital camerasystem shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view useful in explaining processing for designatingcharacter data, executed by the key operation of the digital camerashown in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are flowcharts useful in explaining the procedure of theprocessing for designating character data, executed by the key operationin the digital camera system shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic view useful in explaining the procedure ofprocessing for moving character data, included in the character datadesignating processing and executed by the key operation in the digitalcamera system shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A digital camera according to the embodiment of the invention will bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the basic structure of the digitalcamera according to the embodiment will be described.

FIGS. 1A and 1B shows a digital still camera 11 provided with aphotosensitive printer. In this camera, an image of an object to bephotographed is formed on a solid-state photography element such as aCCD, is converted to image data indicating the photographed image, andis recorded on a recording medium such as a memory card. The image datacan be read from the recording medium and a print image can printed outbased on the image by the printer. When printing data, character ormark, such as a photography date, associated with image data can besuperimposed on the print image.

FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective view of an external appearance of thedigital camera 11 when viewed from behind. As is shown in FIG. 1A, themain body of the digital camera 11 is provided with a release switch,i.e. a shutter button 12, a mode switch 13, an optical viewfinder 14, animage display LCD 15, a mode display LCD 16, a strobe light 17, a crosskey 18, a sheet discharge port 19, etc.

The release switch or shutter button 12 is an operation button forinputting an instruction to execute photography. The mode switch 13 isan operation button to be used to set/change the operation mode of thedigital camera 11. The following three operation modes are prepared forthe digital camera 11 and can be switched by the operation of the modeswitch 13.

1) Record/Photography Mode:

In this mode, a to-be-photographed subject or object is photographedusing a solid-state photography element such as a CCD, and image dataobtained by the photography is recorded in a recording medium.

2) Reproduction Mode:

In this mode, data such as image data previously obtained by photography(including image data obtained by photography operation of anotherdigital camera, image data created by a computer, etc.) is read from therecording medium and displayed on the image display LCD 15.

3) Print Mode:

In this mode, data such as image data previously obtained by photography(including data on an image photographed by another digital camera,image data created by a computer, etc.) is read from the recordingmedium, and an image based on the image data is printed by the built-inprinter. An image based on image data obtained by photography can beprinted immediately after the photography.

In the print mode, the user can select the contents of character data tobe superimposed on a to-be-printed image, and designate the position ofthe character data on the to-be-printed image by operating the cross key18. More specifically, the cross key 18 is an operation button forchanging the position of character data, and includes four scroll keysas shown. The position of character data is set upward when pushing theupward key, and set downward when pushing the downward key. Further, theorientation of character data is also set with the four scroll keys. Theorientation of character data is set downward when pushing the upwardkey, and set upward when pushing the downward key.

The coordination of the position and orientation of character dataenables printing of character data while orienting the character dataoptimally with respect to its position designated by the user. Thus, theuser does not have to designate the position and the orientationindividually, which means that the camera has a high operability.

FIG. 1B is a schematic sectional view of the digital camera 11 whenviewed from upward.

As shown in FIG. 1B, the digital camera 11 has a photography lenssection 21 on the front side of the main body, and contains, in the mainbody, a printed circuit board 22 provided with various electronicelements, and a printing section 23. The printing section 23 functionsas a photosensitive built-in printer, and comprises a film cartridge, anoptical head, etc. as shown in FIG. 1B. This photosensitive built-inprinter uses a self-development type photosensitive paper (aphotosensitive film) as printing paper. The photosensitive paper (film)is exposed on the basis of image data to be printed, and then executesself-development, thereby forming an image thereon.

The film cartridge (also called a “film pack”) contains a plurality ofphotosensitive paper sheets (photosensitive films) used as printingpaper sheets. This film cartridge is of a detachable type and can bedetachably attached to the main body of the digital camera 11, andprinting paper 200 (photosensitive paper) is supplied in units of onefilm cartridge.

When printing, printing paper sheets 200 (photosensitive paper sheets)are picked up one by one from the film cartridge by means of aconveyance mechanism incorporated in the printing section 23, andsequentially exposed to light by the optical head section while they areconveyed toward the paper discharge port 19. Each exposed printing papersheet 200 is pressed by rollers for conveyance, whereby a developercontained in each printing paper sheet 200 is spread all over theto-be-developed surface. After that, each paper sheet 200 is dischargedthrough the paper discharge port 19.

The paper discharge port 19 has a paper discharge port shutter 24. Whenprinting is not executed, the paper discharge port shutter 24 is closedto prevent the entrance of dust from the outside.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1B, the main body of the digital camera 11also includes a card slot 25 for inserting therein anattachable/detachable memory 100 formed of an attachable/detachablenonvolatile recording medium such as a memory card, a card lid 26 forprotecting the attached memory 100, and a battery box for containing aplurality of batteries 27 used as the power supply of the digital camera11.

(System Structure)

Referring then to FIG. 2, the system of the digital camera 11 will bedescribed.

In addition to an operation section including the shutter button 12, themode switch 13 and the cross key 18, the image display LCD 15, the modedisplay LCD 16 and the strobe light 17, the digital camera 11 comprisesa photography lens system 111, a photography element 112, a photographycircuit 113, an A/D converting circuit 114, a system controller 115, amemory card interface (I/F) 116, a built-in memory 117, a displaycontrol circuit 118, an image processing section 119, an externalinterface (I/F) 120, an compression/decompression processing section121, a power supply section 122, an EEPROM 123, etc.

The photography lens system 111, the photography element 112, thephotography circuit 113 and the A/D converter circuit 114 constitute aphotography section. The photography lens system 111 is an opticalsystem that constitutes the photography lens section 21. The photographyelement 112 is a solid-type photography element for executingphotoelectric conversion to convert a subject image, formed by thephotography optical system 111, into an electric image signal. Thiselement is formed of, for example, a CCD area sensor provided with acolor filter.

The photography circuit 113 controls the photography element 112 so asto receive image information from the element 112, to adjust the speedof the element shutter (electronic shutter) of the element 112, and/orto adjust the gain of an image signal output from the element 112. Animage signal output from the photography circuit 113 is supplied to theA/D converter circuit 114, where it is converted into a digital imagesignal.

The system controller 115 is a CPU for controlling each unitincorporated in the digital camera 11, and is formed of, for example, aone-chip microcomputer. In this embodiment, the system controller 115has an attendant information synthesizing/controlling section 301 forcontrolling the process of synthesizing character data, as well as acontrol section for photographing, recording and printing an image. Theattendant information synthesizing/controlling section 301 has anattendant information synthesizing/controlling section 301 forsimultaneously changing the position and the orientation of characterdata associated with image data. This attendant informationsynthesizing/controlling section 301 will be described later in detailwith reference to FIGS. 5 to 7.

The memory card interface (I/F) 116 is provided for accessing theattachable/detachable memory 100 to read/write data. Image data iswritten into and read from the memory 100 via the memory card interface(I/F) 116.

The built-in memory 117 is a buffer area used for temporarily holdingphotography image data obtained by the photography section. This bufferarea is also used as a working area for image processing. The imageprocessing section 119 creates image data for printing by superimposingcharacter data associated with image data on the image data. Thissynthesizing processing by the image processing section 119 or thecompression/decompression processing by the compression/decompressionprocessing section 121 are executed on the built-in memory 117.

The display control circuit 118 has a function of displaying image dataon the image display LCD 15, and displays an original image or characterdata on a display section under the control of the system controller 115when executing the character data designating processing. The externalinterface 120 is provided for enabling communication with an externalcomputer or other electron devices via a communication interface such asRS232, IEEE1394, etc. The external interface 120 transmits or receivesvarious control data items, image data, etc.

The compression/decompression processing section 121 compressesto-be-recorded image data obtained by photography in a compressionformat such as JPEG (Joint Photographic Coding Experts Group), anddecompresses to-be-printed (or to-be-reproduced) compressed image dataread from the attachable/detachable memory 100.

The power supply section 122 is a power supply circuit for supplyingeach unit of the digital camera 11 with operation power output from thebatteries contained in the digital camera 11 or from an external ACpower supply. The EEPROM 123 stores, for example, parameters for variousimage processing steps.

The digital camera 11 also includes, as units constituting the printingsection 23, a to-be-printed image creating section 201, a printingbuffer memory 202, a head driving circuit 203, an optical head section204, a drive control circuit 205, a driving section 206, a filmcartridge 207, a cartridge sensor 208, etc., as is shown in FIG. 2.

The to-be-printed image creating section 201 executes various types ofimage processing, such as resizing processing, gamma correctionprocessing, color correction processing, etc., on to-be-printed imagedata stored in the built-in memory 117 for obtaining image data suitablefor printing. The section 201 rasterizes the image data for printing,and develops it in units of one line in the printing buffer memory 202.The image data developed in the printing buffer memory 202 is suppliedto the optical head section 204 via the head driving circuit 203. Theoptical head section 204 is formed of three optical heads correspondingto light beams R, G and B, and an LCD shutter for controlling, in unitsof one pixel, interruption/transmission of light emitted from theoptical heads. The control of the open period of the LCD shutter enablessetting of a period of exposure to each light beam R, G or B in units ofone pixel. The cartridge sensor 208 detects whether or not the filmcartridge 207 is mounted.

(Print Mode)

Referring now to the flowchart of FIG. 3, a series of operationsexecuted in the print mode will be described. In this section, adescription will be given of a case where image data previouslyphotographed and recorded in the attachable/detachable memory 100 isprinted.

When the user has designated the print mode, the system controller 115reads an image data file from the attachable/detachable memory 100, thencontrols the compression/decompression processing section 121 so as todecompress main image data contained in the image data file, anddisplays the decompressed data on the image display LCD 15 (step S11).The image data file includes main image data, thumbnail image data andcharacter data such as a photography date, a file name, etc. as shown inFIG. 4.

When printing an image other than the displayed image (if the answer tothe question of a step S12 is NO), frame feeding for reading anotherimage from the attachable/detachable memory 100 is executed inaccordance with the user's operation (step S13), thereby repeating theprocessing of the step S11.

After a to-be-printed image is selected (if the answer to the questionof the step S12 is YES), the system controller 115 inquires the user, bydisplaying, for example, a message on the image display LCD 15, whetheror not character data associated with the image should be printedtogether with the image (step S14).

If the user designates the printing of the character data (if the answerto the question of the step S14 is YES), the system controller 115executes character data designating processing (step S15), in whichto-be-printed character data is selected, and the position and theorientation of the character data in the to-be-printed image are set.FIG. 5 shows manners of setting of the position and the orientation ofcharacter data.

As is shown in FIG. 5, character data such as a photography date isplaced in a lower portion of the image and oriented upward, when thedownward key included in the cross key 18 has been pushed. Accordingly,image data obtained by the digital camera 11 held in the landscapeposition is oriented upward as shown in FIG. 5, i.e. displayed in acorrect position. Thus, when printing this image data, character datacan be set in an appropriate position and oriented appropriately simplyby pushing the downward key.

On the other hand, when the user has pushed the rightward key of thecross key 18, character data such as a photography date is placed on theright hand of an image and oriented leftward. Similarly, when the userhas pushed the leftward key of the cross key 18, character data date isplaced on the left hand of an image and oriented rightward.

Image data obtained by operating the digital camera held in the portraitposition is displayed on the screen such that it is orientated leftwardor rightward. Therefore, when printing this image data, character datacan be set in an appropriate position and oriented appropriately withrespect to the orientation of the image data, by pushing the rightwardor leftward key.

Further, when the user has pushed the upward key of the cross key 18,character data such as a photography date is placed in an upper portionof the image and orientated downward as shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, inthe case of printing, for example, image data obtained by operating thedigital camera held upside down, i.e. printing image data in a landscapeposition and upside down state, character data can be set in anappropriate position and oriented appropriately simply by pushing theupward key.

As described above, the relationship between the position and theorientation of character data is predetermined so that the characterdata will be always placed in a lower portion of image data irrespectiveof the orientation of the image data, and therefore the position and theorientation of the character data can be set simultaneously simply byoperating the cross key 18. It is a matter of course that therelationship between the position and the orientation of character datamay be predetermined so that the character data will be always placed inan upper portion of image data irrespective of the orientation of theimage data.

After the position and the orientation of character data is determinedon the LCD screen by character data designating processing, the systemcontroller 115 executes, using the image processing section 119, imageprocessing for obtaining image data for printing with character datasuperimposed thereon, thereby starting printing processing andoutputting an image from the printer section (step S16). The outputimage is basically identical to a displayed one. Accordingly, theoperation of the cross key 18 is also an operation for designating onwhich portion of the printing paper sheet 200 the character data isprinted.

When the user has input an instruction to print another image (stepS17), the system controller 115 re-executes the processing at the stepS11, et seq. When the user has input an instruction to finish theprinting (if the answer to the question of the step S17 is NO), thesystem controller 115 executes power-off processing (step S18), therebyfinishing the processing.

(Character Data Designating Processing)

Referring now to the flowchart of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the procedure ofprocessing for designating character data, executed at the step S15 ofFIG. 3, will be described in detail.

In the character data designating processing, the system controller 115first determines, on the basis of the operation by the user, that any ofdate, time and file name should be printed, and then displays an imagewith date, time or file name data superimposed thereon (steps S21–S25).The initial position of the date, time or file name data is a lowerportion of the displayed image, and the orientation of the characterdata is set upward as usual.

After that, the system controller 115 determines whether or not theprinting position of the character data should be designated, on thebasis of whether or not the cross key 18 has been operated (step S26).If no orientation key of the cross key 18 is operated (if the answer tothe question of the step S26 is NO), or if the downward key (lowerbutton) of the cross key 18 is pushed, the system controller 115situates the character data along the lower edge of the image withoutrevolving it, i.e. keeping it oriented upward (in a default state) (stepS31).

When the user has pushed the rightward key (right-hand button) (if theanswer to the question of a step S28 is YES), the system controller 115situates the character data along the right-hand edge of the image,orienting it leftward by revolving the character data counterclockwisethrough 90 degrees (step S32).

When the user has pushed the upward key (upper button) (if the answer tothe question of a step S29 is YES), the system controller 115 situatesthe character data along the upper edge of the image, orienting itdownward by revolving the character data counterclockwise or clockwisethrough 180 degrees (step S33).

When the user has pushed the leftward key (left-hand button) (if theanswer to the question of a step S30 is YES), the system controller 115situates the character data along the left edge of the image, orientingit rightward by revolving the character data clockwise through 90degrees (step S34).

Subsequently, the system controller 115 detects whether or not the userhas pushed the same orientation key more than once (step S35). If thesame orientation key has been pushed more than once (if the answer tothe question of the step S35 is YES), the system controller 115cyclically shifts the position of the character data, along an edgeindicated by the orientation key, to “central position”, “left endposition”, “right end position”, and again “central position”, “left endposition” . . . in this order each time the orientation key has beenpushed once (steps S36–S40), as is shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the downward key has been pushed severaltimes. When the downward key has been pushed for the first time, thecharacter data is initially situated in “right end position” along thelower edge of the image. If, in this state, the downward key is pushedagain, the character data is shifted to “central position” along thelower edge of the image. If the downward key is again pushed, thecharacter data is further shifted to “left end position”. Similarly, ifthe downward key is yet again pushed, the character data is returned to“right end position”.

More specifically, in the shifting processing, the system controller 115first determines whether or not the present position of the characterdata is “right end position” along the edge indicated by the presentlypushed orientation key (step S36). If it is determined to be “right endposition” (if the answer to the question of the step S36 is YES), theposition of the character data is shifted to “central position” (stepS38).

On the other hand, if the present position of the character data is not“right end position” along the edge indicated by the presently pushedorientation key, it is determined whether or not the present position ofthe character data is “left end position” (step S37). If it isdetermined to be “left end position” (if the answer to the question ofthe step S37 is YES), the position of the character data is shifted to“right end position” (step S39). If, on the other hand, the presentposition of the character data is not “left end position” (i.e. if theanswer to the question to the step S37 is NO and it is determined to be“central position”), the system controller 115 shifts the character datato “left end position” (step S40).

The above-described processing of controlling the position andorientation of character data by operating the orientation keys, and theprocessing of shifting character data by continuously operating the sameorientation key are repeated until the user inputs an instruction toexecute printing (if the answer to the question of a step S41 is NO).

As described above, since, in the embodiment, the orientation ofcharacter data to be superimposed on image data can be shifted to one ofpredetermined upward, downward, leftward and rightward orientations inaccordance with button operations by the user. Accordingly, characterdata can easily be superimposed on to-be-printed image data, orientedappropriately for the image data. In particular, relating the positionof character data to its orientation enables superimposition andprinting of character data in a position on image data, designated bythe user, in a state in which the character data is oriented optimallywith respect to the designated position. Thus, the digital camera has ahigh operability. Further, the position of character data can be shiftedalong an edge indicated by a presently pushed orientation key, bypushing the orientation key more than once. As a result, adjustment ofthe position of the character data can be executed easily.

Although in the embodiment, character data is used as attendantinformation to be superimposed on to-be-printed image data, the sameprocessing can be executed even when synthesizing image data with afigure or a mark prepared in advance and printing the resultant data.Moreover, the processing may be modified such that at first, only theorientation of character data is changed by a predetermined buttonoperation by the user, and the position of the character data is changedlater, if necessary, by a predetermined button operation by the user.

In addition, although the control of synthesizing attendant informationaccording to the embodiment is suitable especially for a digital camerathat has a printing function, it is also applicable, for example, to avideo printer having an attendant information synthesizing function,since the position and orientation of attendant information can bedetermined efficiently by a simple button operation. A structureobtained by removing the photography section from the digital camera ofthe embodiment may be used as the video printer.

As described above, the present invention can easily provide a printingoutput with easy-to-read attendant information, which looks nice.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A printer for printing an image based on image data and attendantinformation associated with the image data, the printer comprising:means for synthesizing the image data with the attendant information toproduce print image data; means for printing an image based on the printimage data; means for changing an orientation of attendant informationto be superimposed on the image, to one of a plurality of predeterminedorientations, said changing means changing the orientation of theattendant information in accordance with a predetermined operation by auser so that the attendant information is synthesized with the image,oriented appropriately for an orientation of the image data; and anoperation unit including four operation sections corresponding toupward, downward, leftward and rightward, wherein the changing meanssets, in accordance with a user's operation of the operation unit, theposition of the attendant information on the image data along one ofupper, lower, left and right edges of the image data, and changes theorientation of the attendant information in accordance with the setposition; wherein the changing means includes means for shifting theposition of the attendant information along the one of the upper, lower,left and right edges in accordance with a user's operation of that oneof the four operation sections, which corresponds to the one of theupper, lower, left and right edges.
 2. The printer according to claim 1,wherein the first orientation and position is predetermined, and saidsecond orientation and position is selectable by a user.
 3. The printeraccording to claim 1, wherein the attendant information includescharacter data.
 4. A digital camera comprising: means for forming animage of a to-be-photographed subject; means for converting the imageinto electronic image data; means for generating attendant informationassociated with the image data; means for synthesizing the attendantinformation with the image data to produce print image data; means forprinting an image based on the print image data; means for changing, toone of a plurality of predetermined orientations, an orientation of theattendant information to be synthesized with the image data, thechanging means changing the orientation of the attendant information inaccordance with a user's predetermined operation so that the attendantinformation is synthesized with the image data, orientated appropriatelyfor an orientation of the image data; and an operation unit includingfour operation sections corresponding to upward, downward, leftward andrightward, and a control means which sets, in accordance with a user'soperation of the operation unit, the position of the attendantinformation on the image data along one of upper, lower, left and rightedges of the image data, and changes the orientation of the attendantinformation in accordance with the set position, wherein the changingmeans includes means for shifting the position of the attendantinformation along the one of the upper, lower, left and right edges inaccordance with a user's operation of that one of the four operationsections, which corresponds to the one of the upper, lower, left andright edges.
 5. The digital camera according to claim 4, wherein thechanging means changes the position and the orientation of the attendantinformation in accordance with a user's selection.
 6. The digital cameraaccording to claim 4, wherein the attendant information includescharacter data.
 7. A printer for printing an image based on image dataand attendant information associated with the image data, the printercomprising: a synthesizer that is structured to synthesize the imagedata with the attendant information to produce print image data; aprinter that prints an image based on the print image data; a processorthat changes an orientation of attendant information to be superimposedon the image, to one of a plurality of predetermined orientations, saidprocessor being capable of changing the orientation of the attendantinformation in accordance with a predetermined operation by a user sothat the attendant information is synthesized with the image, orientedappropriately for an orientation of the image data; and an operationunit including four operation sections corresponding to upward,downward, leftward and rightward, wherein the processor sets, inaccordance with a user's operation of the operation unit, the positionof the attendant information on the image data along one of upper,lower, left and right edges of the image data, and changes theorientation of the attendant information in accordance with the setposition; wherein the processor includes an image data shifter thatshifts the position of the attendant information along the one of theupper, lower, left and right edges in accordance with a user's operationof that one of the four operation sections, which corresponds to the oneof the upper, lower, left and right edges.
 8. A digital cameracomprising: an imager that form an image of a to-be-photographedsubject; a converter that converts the image into electronic image data;a data composer that generates attendant information associated with theimage data; a synthesizer that combines the attendant information withthe image data and produces print image data; a printer that prints animage based on the print image data; a data processor that operates tochange an orientation of the attendant information to be synthesizedwith the image data to one of a plurality of predetermined orientations,the processor changing the orientation of the attendant information inaccordance with a user's predetermined operation so that the attendantinformation is synthesized with the image data, orientated appropriatelyfor an orientation of the image data; and an operation unit includingfour operation sections corresponding to upward, downward, leftward andrightward, and a controller which sets, in accordance with a user'soperation of the operation unit, the position of the attendantinformation on the image data along one of upper, lower, left and rightedges of the image data, and changes the orientation of the attendantinformation in accordance with the set position, wherein the processorincludes a shifter that shifts the position of the attendant informationalong the one of the upper, lower, left and right edges in accordancewith a user's operation of that one of the four operation sections,which corresponds to the one of the upper, lower, left and right edges.9. A printer apparatus that is capable of simultaneously printing imagedata and character string data associated with the image data, theapparatus comprising: means for displaying to-be-printed image data on apreview screen: a manual operation member manually operable by a user toselect a position for the character string data: a control section forcontrolling a position and an orientation of the character string dataaccording to a selection by the user; and a print data processingsection for synthesizing the image data with the character string dataoutput from the character string data position control section, and thenprinting the synthesized data, wherein the manual operation memberincludes four operation sections corresponding to upward, downward,leftward and rightward, thereby enabling the control section to set inaccordance with a user's operation of the operation member, the positionfor attendant information on the image data to one of upper, lower, leftand right edges of the image data, and change the orientation of theattendant information in accordance with the set position, wherein thecontrol section includes means for shifting the position of theattendant information to one of the upper, lower, left and right edgesin user's operation of that one of the four operation sections, whichcorresponds to the one of the upper, lower, left and right edges.
 10. Anelectronic camera equipped with a printer apparatus that is capable ofsimultaneously printing image data obtained by photography and characterstring data associated with the image data, the apparatus comprising:means for converting image data concerning a photographed subject intoan electronic signal; means for displaying to-be-printed image data on apreview screen; a manual operation member manually operable by a user toselect orientation and position of the character string data; a controlsection for controlling the position and the orientation of thecharacter string data when printing the image data according to theuser's selection; and a print data processing section for synthesizingthe image data with the character string data output from the characterstring data position control section, and then printing the synthesizeddata, wherein the manual operation member includes four operationsections corresponding to upward, downward, leftward and rightward,thereby enabling the control section to set in accordance with a user'soperation of the operation member, the position for attendantinformation on the image data to one of upper, lower, left and rightedges of the image data, and change the orientation of the attendantinformation in accordance with the set position, wherein the controlsection includes means for shifting the position of the attendantinformation to one of the upper, lower, left and right edges in user'soperation of that one of the four operation sections, which correspondsto the one of the upper, lower, left and right edges.